Every option here has built perfectly good websites. The question isn't which is best in general. It's which is best for where your business is now, and where it's heading.
Wix and Squarespace
Drag-and-drop builders with a monthly subscription. Brilliant for getting something decent live quickly and cheaply. The limits show up later: speed, flexibility, and the fact that you can't easily take your site with you if you leave.
WordPress
Hugely flexible, with a plugin for nearly everything. That's also the problem. Sites built from lots of plugins need regular updates and security attention, and they can get slow and fragile if nobody's looking after them.
Custom-built
Designed and coded around your business. Fast, nothing you don't need, and able to do exactly what you want, including connecting to your other systems. The trade-off is a higher upfront cost and needing someone to look after it, which is why most custom builds, mine included, come with ongoing support.
Signs you've outgrown a website builder
- Your site is slow, especially on phones.
- You're paying for several add-ons to do something that should be simple.
- You want booking, payments or a client area to work in a way the builder doesn't allow.
- Your site looks like a template, and your business doesn't feel like one any more.
Moving without losing what you've built up
- Keep your domain. It can be moved to the new site, so your address doesn't change.
- Redirect your old pages. Every old page address should point to its new equivalent, so links and search rankings carry over.
- Move your content and email list before you cancel the old subscription.
- Check your email if it runs through your domain, so nothing goes missing during the switch.
I handle all of this when I rebuild a site. If you're wondering whether it's time, send us your current web address and I'll tell you honestly whether it needs a rebuild or just a few improvements.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change, so check the official guidance for your own situation.
